Is this why the Iraqi people don't rebel?

TomF

After reading this New York Times story, it seems perfectly logical to me that people in Basra, or indeed Baghdad, might be very reluctant to indicate support for oncoming American or British forces.

"British forces, under the command of Maj. Gen. Robin Brims, moved to cut off Basra from other Iraqi forces by using air power to take out a bridge and by repositioning ground forces.

The British moves came amid reports of rebellion in the Shiite-dominated city and harsh reprisals by security forces loyal to Mr. Hussein's government.

A woman who waved to British forces on the outskirts of the city was later found hanged, an American officer said, and the Iraqis moved D-30 artillery in place to shell rebellious residents."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/26/international/worldspecial/26STRA.html?ex=1049259600&en=9942ec3bb926c914&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

Hobbes

It's intresting the amount of press coming out about Basra that says the Iraqi's are shelling it. The UK dropped a **** load of bombs on it a few days ago and killed loads of civilians by accident.

The Iraqi TV managed to film the whole thing and release it. I put a link up to the BBC related story on another thread, but it's strange that this isn't being reported. The BBC report is also very censored. They don't show the level of carnage the bombs did where are the Arab TV shots did. It's not pretty.

Victor

Maybe it has more to do with this quote "Shiites in the south recall the Persian Gulf war in 1991, when the administration of President Bush's father called for the Iraqi people to get rid of their dictator but did not intervene when the Shiites began to rise up."

In any country being attacked / invaded, a siege mentality will develop and given that they were screwed over by the Americans, they are going to be much slower this time.

Bateman

I think the fact that Iraqis don't rebel has more to do with the presence of Ba'ath people on every single street in the country, and the fear of possible execution in areas where these people still hold power unchecked by coalition forces.

mike65

The reason for the behaviour of the Basra popualtion is fear about taking on the republican guard if they dont think they can rely on a swift intervention by the UK troops. In the port of Uam Qasr reports show ppl are both glad of the arrival of aid but also careful lest the Iraqi military be back.

Mike.

Sand

If a rebellion got into full swing it wouldnt stand much chance against the regular Iraqi army - which would then force the British to either stand back, or else they would have to drive into Basra ASAP to relieve the rebels, which is something the allies arent willing to do given it would be difficult and lead to a lot of collateral damage.

And it could never be discounted that a rebellion could be "faked" to try and lure allied troops into an ambush. It would also have the added benefit ( from the Iraqi pov ) of sowing doubt with the allies regarding any future rebellions, making them too slow to support them.

The Iraqi people are stuck in the middle.

If they don't rise up, they must stick with saddam, and wait for "allied liberation", which means being shelled, bombed, and attacked by allied troops, while being beaten down by Iraqi troops.

On the other hand, if they do rise up, they'll be seen as traitors to the Arab nations, since they didn't fight for their country/religion. (Saddam has gained alot of popular support recently) Also, consider that most Iraqi's, while they don't want Saddam in power, they in turn also don't want an american puppet government.

Either way, they're screwed by their perspective.